23 Reasons To Go Outside: Snapshots from a Daily Practice of Nature Observation – with Josh Fecteau – an online program, Tuesday, August 18th at 7 p.m.
Interested in discovering some of the birds, plants and nature that are often hiding in plain sight all around us? Local naturalist Josh Fecteau will share some of the wild treasures he’s found near his home in Kennebunkport, and encourage all of us to go outside to make rewarding discoveries of our own.
On Tuesday, August 18th, at 7 p.m., York County Audubon will be presenting this program online. The program is available free of charge, but advance registration is required. Please use the link in red below.
Josh grew up along the southern Maine coast. In his early 20’s, he discovered his passion for the natural world. Since then, he has spent countless hours exploring New England, observing and interacting with his surroundings in fresh, exciting ways.
In 2017, he gave free reign to his passion for birds, and ended up setting a Maine Big Year record, observing 317 different bird species in Maine in that calendar year, including quite a few rarities.
Another passion is his love of wild native plants, especially edible ones. Over the years, he has presented a variety of workshops and programs on foraging for edible wild plants, providing guidelines and tips for safe, successful and satisfying foraging in your backyard and beyond.
His strong desire to share his love of the natural world with others who are hungry for wild connection inspires his blog, joshfecteau.com, where he is making steady progress toward his goal of providing 237 Reasons to Go Outside.
There’s no charge to participate, but you need to register in advance to watch this program. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_99GMz9RoS5WBHAVLhst5Fg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
A video of of our July 2020 program: Bird Photography – with Laurie Pocher
Thanks so much to Laurie for this great program (which starts about 30 seconds into this video):
Online via Zoom: Improving Your Bird Photography – with Laurie Pocher – Tuesday, July 21st
Bird photography has never been more popular, and we’d like to offer some help to improve your results and your enjoyment as well! On Tuesday, July 21st, at 7 p.m., we’ll be presenting our second online Zoom program, this time on Improving Your Bird Photography. To register for this event, please click on the link in the paragraph in bold font at the bottom of this post.
If you’ve ever tried to photograph birds, you know it’s often not easy. Your subjects are small, fast, and shy… they move around a lot, they’re most active early and late in the day, they hang out in trees and shrubs… and they fly. It can be difficult at times just to get a clear view of one, never mind capture a photo. It can be frustrating, for sure. But it can also be incredibly rewarding when everything comes together and you nail the shot.
Laurie Pocher, a member of our YCA Board, is an amateur Nature & Wildlife Photographer, who has been mildly obsessed with birds for 25+ years. In our July program, she’ll offer some tips and suggestions to help you overcome some of the challenges in photographing birds. We’ll discuss camera equipment and settings that can help in different situations, and review composition and editing tips to enhance your bird photos and increase your odds of capturing frame-worthy images. You don’t need an advanced camera to get some great shots. Your photo skills can be improved, even for shots taken with your phone!
There’s no charge to participate, but you need to register in advance to watch this program. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ct7kPR1XRBa7HyoL7KmtPw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
A Video of our June 2020 program: An Artist’s View of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge – with Michael Boardman
On June 16th, Michael Boardman presented a wonderful program on his experiences in Alaska. He had been selected by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to be the Artist-in-Residence at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. While we don’t have a video of that program to share, here’s a link to the program he presented for the Alaska Wilderness League in May, which was virtually the same as the one he presented for York County Audubon. Enjoy!
Note: there are a couple of introductions related to the Alaska Wilderness League at the beginning of the video. Michael’s program starts at the 10:00 minute mark, and you can jump ahead to that if you wish. Just slide your cursor along the “time bar” that runs just above the start/pause button and volume control at the bottom of the screen.
https://p.widencdn.net/8bgjh1/Michael-Boardman-Geography-of-Hope-Event-May-2020
For more information on Michael’s work, please visit http://www.mboardman.com
And also http://www.coyotees.com
Online via Zoom: An Artist’s View of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge – with Michael Boardman – Tuesday, June 16th
For the past several months, we have had to cancel our programs and workshops to help ensure everyone’s health and safety. Now, we are very pleased to present our first Zoom Online program on June 16th at 7 p.m. To register for this event, please click on the link in the paragraph in bold font at the bottom of this post.
Michael Boardman is a wildlife artist and member of the Maine Master Naturalist program. In spring of 2019, he was selected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be the Artist-In-Residence at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He was flown to the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge in June to spend two weeks at the Canning River Bird Camp, assisting the ornithologists there study all the migrating birds breeding on the tundra. In his presentation, Michael will share his unique experience in an extreme environment, with plenty of artwork and stories about how the avian life of the Arctic Refuge connects us all to that endangered landscape.
Michael is known for his watercolor bird portraits and nature journal sketches. Numerous artist residencies have allowed him to connect art and science, including Acadia National Park, Hog Island Audubon Camp, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, and most recently Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska in June of 2019. He is also the owner and artist of Coyote Graphics, creating nature based garments from his artwork. (www.coyotees.com)
Michael will discuss his time in the Arctic Refuge, share stories and images, and answer your questions. We hope you can join us!
There’s no charge, but you need to register in advance to watch this program. To do so, please click on this link and enter your name and email address:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqc–vpjMtHNPW9-I9zEoPyvCYaARYqZpl
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Annual Election of Officers and Directors
The Nominating Committee has presented a slate of Officers and Directors to the YCA Board, and that slate has been approved by the Directors: Bill Grabin, President, Joyce Toth, Vice President, Kathy Donahue, Treasurer, and Monica Grabin, Secretary, as well as the following slate of Directors: Mary Bateman, David Doubleday, Doug Hitchcox, Ken Janes, Marion Sprague, Seth Davis, Eileen Willard, Marian Zimmerman, Laurie Pocher
An Artist’s View of Glacier Bay National Park – with Michael Boardman – Tuesday, May 19th
Due to concerns about the coronavirus, we have cancelled this May 19th program. However, an online program has been scheduled for June 16th; please go to the post for that event to register for it. Thanks for your understanding, and take care.
In 2015, local wildlife artist Michael Boardman spent 2 weeks as the artist in residence in Glacier Bay Alaska. He spent time studying the wildlife and unique geology of the park with scientists and wildlife biologists. On Tues, May 19th he will give a presentation on the park, its wildlife and the experience of creating art in such an inspiring environment.
Michael is known for his watercolor bird portraits and nature journal sketches. He has connected his art to wildlife science through artist residencies at Acadia National Park, Hog Island Audubon Camp, Glacier Bay National Park, and most recently Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska in June of 2019. He is also the owner and artist of Coyote Graphics, creating nature based garments from his artwork.
This program will be held in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. This program is free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m. Come early for social time and refreshments.
Reptiles with Ed LeClair – Tuesday, April 21st – CANCELLED
Due to concerns about the coronavirus, we have cancelled our April 21st program. Thanks for your understanding, and take care.
Every spring, as temperatures warm and rain arrives, amphibians begin their eons-old tradition of migrating from upland habitats to wetlands to breed. These migration events, when timed correctly with the weather, can have thousands of amphibians within a mile of a pool hopping and crawling in synchrony towards their goal. However, their journey is increasingly impeded by a new barrier – roads. Amphibian populations have anecdotally been in decline because of vehicle impacts, and until recently were left relatively unnoticed. Now, citizens throughout New England are participating in their own spring-time tradition of standing guard on roads during the rainy nights of spring to assist amphibians in crossing while collecting valuable data for future conservation efforts. This talk will cover the history and goals of the Big Night project, how to participate, and the special role Unity College plays in the event.
Bio: Greg LeClair is a master’s student at the University of Maine where he studies environmental DNA (eDNA) applications in turtle conservation. He graduated from Unity College in 2018 with a BS in Wildlife Biology, where he participated in herpetological research projects on snakes, salamanders, frogs, and turtles with Dr. Matthew Chatfield. Greg is the project creator of The Big Night: Maine Amphibian Migration Monitoring and hosts a YouTube show about wildlife conservation, GregmentsBio. His research projects focus on applied threatened species conservation with a strong taste for reptiles and amphibians.
Sanford Sewer Ponds closed
FYI, the Sanford Lagoons/Sanford Sewer District has closed its facilities to visitors for the time being. The Lagoons are a wonderful spot for birding, and we have greatly appreciated their efforts to accommodate visitors for many years! We support their efforts and look forward to returning when it is safe to do so.
Botswana Safari: A Wildlife Lover’s Dream Come True – with Suzanne Kahn – Tuesday, March 24th – CANCELLED
Due to concerns about the coronavirus, we have cancelled our March 24th program. Thanks for your understanding, and take care.
Explore the wonders of elephants, leopards, giraffes, and more on a photographic journey through northern Botswana.
In March of 2019, Education Director Suzanne Kahn traveled to Botswana for an eight-day safari. She visited three different regions: the Okavango Delta, the Savute Channel, and Hunda Island. Come explore this remote and wildlife-rich area of Africa with Suzanne as she shares her photos and stories from this once in a lifetime adventure.
Suzanne is the Education Director at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. She has lived in Maine since 1996. Prior to the Reserve, she worked in Portland as the Science Coordinator at the Children’s Museum of Maine. Suzanne also led families and school groups on hikes and cruises at Acadia National Park as an interpretation/environmental education park ranger with the National Park Service. For a couple of winter seasons, Suzanne traveled cross-country to work at an environmental education center on Puget Sound in Washington.
Suzanne received her Master’s degree from Audubon Expedition Institute’s Ecological Teaching and Learning Program at Lesley University. Her undergraduate work was in environmental science and biology at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania.
This program will be held in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. This program is free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m. Come early for social time and refreshments.
The Harlequin – Winter 2020
Please click on the link below to view the Winter 2020 issue of our Harlequin newsletter (with photos in full color!)
https://www.yorkcountyaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Harlequin-Winter-2020-1.pdf
2020 Hog Island Scholarships
Our scholarships for the Hog Island Educator’s Week program, and for the Hog Island Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens have been announced. Full details and the application forms can be found on our Scholarships page: https://www.yorkcountyaudubon.org/scholarships Applications are due by March 15th.
Bird Seed Sale and Barn Social – Saturday, November 9th, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Warm up this Saturday as the Wells Reserve at Laudholm will provides cider and donuts to ward off the chill. Feeding birds in winter is a fun way to see chickadees, woodpeckers, blue jays, cardinals and other birds up close. If you’re getting ready to welcome feathered friends to your yard, stop by for good advice, fresh seed, and select feeders. A representative from Blue Seal’s Rochester store will answer bird-feeding questions, members of York County Audubon will offer bird-watching tips. Seed pickup is also available on Friday from 1 – 4 p.m.
To view an order form, click this link: https://www.yorkcountyaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SeedSale2019.pdf
The State of Maine’s Loons – with “The Birdist” Nick Lund – Tuesday, November 19th
The Common Loon is an iconic denizen and for many epitomizes a Maine summer. But how well do you actually know the Common Loon? Do they migrate? What do they eat? How long do they live? How many Common Loons are there? Why are loons important?
This program will start with an in-depth look at the physiology and habits of the Common Loon, including how its body is built to be an effective underwater hunter, and the timing of its arrival on Maine breeding lakes. We will also take a look at the threats faced by loons.
Nick Lund is Maine Audubon’s Network and Outreach Manager. A Maine native and well known birder, he writes for publications like Audubon, Slate, Down East, and National Geographic. On the web many follow his entertaining posts about birds and birding at “The Birdist”.
Maine Audubon has worked for more than 35 years to count loons in the state, and to examine the causes of loon mortality. This information has helped inform policies necessary to protect loons and ensure that their calls echo across Maine lakes for years to come.
This program will be held in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. This program is free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m. Come early for social time and refreshments.
Bird Sketching Workshop with Michael Boardman – Wednesday, October 30th
Sketching birds is a great way to increase your appreciation of birds and your abilities to identify them. This fun and low pressure workshop will allow you to explore sketching birds using mounted specimens. Michael Boardman is a wildlife artist and master naturalist who will introduce you to or help you develop further your ability to sketch birds and nature.
Open to both beginners and those with more experience, we will work to loosen up your artist hand to eye coordination through fun exercises, talk about and practice some sketching techniques for making visual notes when watching birds in the field, and work on details of anatomy and structure. There will also be a brief watercolor demo with the opportunity to experiment with some color. All materials will be provided but people are welcome to bring their own supplies.
Michael is known for his watercolor bird portraits and nature journal sketches. He has connected his art to wildlife science through artist residencies at Acadia National Park, Hog Island Audubon Camp, Glacier Bay National Park, and most recently Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska in June of 2019. He is also the owner and artist of Coyote Graphics, creating nature based garments from his artwork.
Group size is limited and advance registration is required. To register, click on the link for this event in the Calendar column on the right side of this page, then scroll down and use the registration form. The price is $20/ person ($25/person for non-members), payable by cash or check at the workshop.
Rare Birds in Maine – A Workshop with Doug Hitchcox – Saturday, Nov 2nd
Rare birds capture our imagination. They draw crowds, appear on headlines, and offer a unique opportunity to see something foreign to your area. Join Maine Audubon’s Staff Naturalist, Doug Hitchcox, for a workshop to learn how and why some birds appear out of their normal range, tools you can use to predict their occurrence, and tips on what to do if you find something unusual. During this, we will begin our day with a bird walk to check for any unusual sightings during “rarity season”, gather inside for a slideshow, then follow up with a second walk nearby.
Advance registration is required. To register, click on the link for this event in the Calendar column on the right side of this page, then scroll down and use the registration form. The price is $20/ person ($25/person for non-members), payable by cash or check at the workshop.
We’ll meet at the Fire Station in Biddeford Pool at 7:30 a.m. and start with a little local birding with rarities (or at least uncommon birds) in mind. Then we’ll have an indoor session in the second floor room of the FD building, then take another shot at some of the great local birding spots.
A Maine native, Doug Hitchcox grew up in Hollis and graduated from the University of Maine in 2011. The year he graduated, he traveled to every corner of the state trying to observe as many species as possible in what is known as a ‘Big Year.’ He ended the year having seen 314 species in the state, a new record for Maine. Throughout college Doug worked at the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center running their store and leading walks and tours. Doug was hired as Maine Audubon’s Staff Naturalist in the summer of 2013, a long time “dream job” for him. In his free time, Doug is one of Maine’s eBird reviewers, owner and moderator of the ‘Maine-birds’ listserv, York County Audubon board member, and voting member of the Maine Bird Records Committee.
Photos below are LeConte’s Sparrow and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, two birds that were found in Maine, well outside their normal range
Oaxaca Mexico: Rare Birds and Ancient Cultures – with Doug Hitchcox and Ken Janes – Tuesday, October 22nd
In March 2019, Maine Audubon, in association with Field Guides Birding Tours, made a trip to south-western Mexico in search of rare species that are unique to the Sierra Madre mountains area. Based in the beautiful colonial city of Oaxaca, known for great birds, authentic food, and amazing human history, the group explored many habitats including the semi-arid deserts near Teotitltán and the pine forests of La Cumbre at altitudes of up to almost 10000 feet.
Doug and Ken will report on the successful search for rare endemic species like Dwarf Jay, Gray-barred Wren, Mountain Trogon and Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo in the mountains as well as the Oaxaca Sparrow, Boucard’s Wren, Gray-breasted Woodpecker, and Dusky Hummingbird in the desert areas. Many other species were added to the list including flocks of Gray Silky-flycatcher, rare Ocellated Thrasher, and the beautiful Red Warbler.
The presentation will include a description of the city of Oaxaca and the surrounding area, home of the ancient pre-Columbian Zapotec culture. The group had a chance to explore the imposing ruins of Monte Albán and Mitla, learning about early indigenous people and their impressive engineering and architectural skills. We also had ample opportunity to watch local artisans weaving traditional tapestries and sample the world- famous cuisine. Where else can you watch Blue-throated Hummingbirds while enjoying a lunch of Aztec stew?
Doug Hitchcox is the Staff Naturalist at Maine Audubon and was one of the guides. Ken Janes is a Kennebunk resident and enthusiastic birder. Both are members of York County Audubon and serve on the Board of Directors.
The program will be held in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. This program is free and open to the public, and starts at 7 p.m. Come early for social time and refreshments.
Our 21st Annual Bird Seed Sale is coming!
Keep your feathered friends happy this winter by treating them to tasty and fresh, premium quality bird food and help support two of your favorite environmental organizations at the same time. Profits from our annual sale support the educational programs of both York County Audubon and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. A wide variety of types of seed and suet is available, with great pricing, especially if you order early.
Early bird pricing is available if you place your order by 4 p.m. on Friday, October 25th.
Order pick up will be at the Wells Reserve on Friday, November 8th from 1 – 4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov 9th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with easy access and volunteers on hand to help load your car.
For more information, please access the order form via this link:
The Harlequin – Autumn 2019
Please click on the link below to view the Autumn 2019 issue of our Harlequin newsletter (with photos in full color!)